SELECTING THE TREES 25 



The top is cut off near the soil line. In doing 

 this the workman makes a long slanting cut 

 which leaves the end of the stock with a large 

 cut surface. This cut surface is then split with 

 a sharp knife so that the split extends down to- 

 ward the roots. The scions that are used to 

 start the top of the trees consist of twigs of last 

 year's growth of any variety that it may be de- 

 sired to propagate. A small section of one of 

 these twigs is selected, cut square at the top end 

 and slanting at the bottom end. This slanting 

 end is then split to correspond with that of the 

 stock and the two are fitted together and 

 tightly bound in place with a bit of waxed yarn 

 or light string. 



The assembled stocks and scions are called 

 "grafts" and are usually prepared in winter, 

 packed in moist sawdust and later planted out 

 in the rows where they are to become nursery 

 trees. When they are planted only the top bud 

 of the scion is allowed to extend above the soil 

 line. It is this bud that later forms the tree. 



By the time growth starts the union between 

 the stock and the scion is partly accomplished, 

 but as the season advances this union becomes 

 so perfect that it is impossible to tell just where 

 it was made. Further than this, the scion also 

 develops roots of its own on that portion which 

 was placed under ground at the time of plant- 

 ing. Frequently these roots from the scion be- 



